Samuel Gerard is just your average teen: he hangs out at the bike jumps or at the mall with his friends, finds creative ways to avoid schoolwork, and repeatedly asks his parents questions that he knows have no answer. But when his dad leaves on a quest to 'save the world, ' Samuel's life takes a turn - a big turn.

Starting the day after his father leaves, Samuel finds himself on a dizzying, often humorous series of adventures, from being covered in leeches to accidentally blowing up his friend's garage, from cheering up his mom to supervising his feisty grandma, from making out with the most popular girl in school to a life-changing fight with school bullies. As Samuel tries to sort out the world around him, he gradually finds himself at crossroads of religion and community, family and friends, newfound love and deep-seated hatred, all of which threatens to pull apart his neighborhood - and his family. And in the end, when violence in the community comes to a frightening peak, Samuel is faced with a tough choice: let things continue on a dangerous path, or make a personal sacrifice for peace?

Binding Type: Paperback
Publisher: St. Martins Press-3PL
Published: 10/13/2009
ISBN: 9780312379698
Pages: 256
Weight: 0.55lbs
Size: 8.25h x 5.50w x 0.75d

Review Citations: Booklist 11/15/2009 pg. 45
School Library Journal 12/01/2009 pg. 130

Accelerated Reader Quiz #/Name: 134967 / Book of Samuel
Reading Level: 4.7 / Interest Level: Middle Grade Plus / Point Value: 10